Gas tank structure



Jan. 19,- 1954 D. A. ARMSTRONG ET AL GAS TANK STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 Ri a: fl0.

MI LTE 21 1954 D. A. ARMSTRONG ETAL 2,666,550

GAS TANK STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 5, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I II Al ((4, 1

a PAMELA-ARMSTRONG- MaurERJ.RALEl r Patented Jan. 19, 1954 GAS TANK STRUCTURE Daniel A. Armstrong, Thiensville, Wis., and Walter J. Raleigh, Roseville, Minn., assignors to Scott-Atwater Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application August 5, 1948, Serial No. 42,598

This invention relates to a gas tank structure, and while the same might be used in many and various places, it has been particularly designed for a gas tank on an outboard motor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and efficient structure of gas tank and one which can be quickly and inexpensively produced.

It is a further object of the invention taprovide a gas tank structure comprising a bottom member which is quite rigid and of plate-like form, the same having a peripheral surface including a bead, a top member of inverted dishlike form made of comparatively thin material or metal and having the lower edge thereof pressed against said peripheral surface and around said bead, a sealing medium',-such as cement, being disposed between said members to form a tight joint.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a gas tank structure comprising a bottom plate-like member having a peripheral edge comprising a short, substantially vertical surface, a short plane surface extending outwardly from said surface and a downwardly directed bead below said second surface, together with a top member of inverted dish-like form and having its lower edge pressed against said peripheral edge and around said bead, a layer of cement,

such as rubber cement, being disposed between said members to form a tight joint.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a gas tank of novel form comprisinga bottom plate-like member preferably of elongated shape, said member having attaching and locating means on its lower side, a top member'of inverted dish-like :form having its lower edge extending about and tightly secured to said bottom member and having filling and air supply means at its top.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference char- 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-67) Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a partial vertical section taken on line l''! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1, said sections being taken as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 9 is a partial vertical section showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, a tank structure is shown comprising a lower or bottom member l0. Bottom member In is of plate-like form and is made quite rigid. While member I!) could be made in various shapes, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as of elongated form and as substantially trapezoidal in plan at one end and as semi-circular at its other end. Member It has extending upwardly therefrom a cylindrical portion Illa substantially concentric with the semi-circular end thereof, which portion Illa tapers slightly upwardly. Portion Illa has projecting outwardly from its outer side a plurality of equally and circumferentially spaced strengthening ribs Hlaa. Member Ill has projectirig downwardly from its bottom a pair oflugs ltlb having extending at opposite sides thereof strengthening ribs I00. Lugs lflb may receive attaching studs II for securing said tank to its support. Member ID has disposed'substantially centrally transversely at its trapezoidal end a lug [0e which projects slightly at the bottom of member l0 and has a portion projecting upwardly from the upper side thereof. A plurality of strengthening ribs 10 extend radially outward from lug [Be on the upper surface of member ID, as shown in Fig. 4. Lug We may also receive a stud l2 for attaching member :0 to a suitable support. Member I 6 has projecting from its bottom 2. pair of lugs Hid which are symmetrically disposed relatively to the longitudinal center line thereof. Lugs Hid serve as stops for a magneto handle. Member Hi also has projecting upwardly from its top side a plurality of equally and circumferentially spaced lugs "lg to one of which one of the ribs it; extends. An annular lug lllh extends downwardly from the lower side of member l0 concentric with the lugs lily. A cap I3 is provided having a flange of substantially the same diameter as lug lth and disposed below lug lllh and connected thereto by a plurality of headed screws l 4 extending therethrough and into lugs Hlg. A gasket I5 is preferably disposed between-said flange and lug Hm. Split spring locking washers I5 are shown as disposed between the heads of screws l4 and member [3. Member I3 is centrally bored and tapped to have secured thereto a pipe or conduit I! through which the gasoline or other liquid passes from said tank. A boss I02 is provided at the top of member Hi concentric with lug lit and has an opening lllj therein- Lug Iflh isbored to form a shoulder with boss I01 and a screen l8 of frusto-conical form is disposed against said shoulder and held thereagainst by an annular upper flange on mem:-.- ber l3, a gasket washer 20 preferably being. dis.- posed between said latter flange and screen" f8". Screen |8 is made of minute spheres oi metal such as bronze sintered together. Member |.0.has-' a peripheral edge which comprisesa substantially vertical surface lillc of comparatively small height, an outwardly extending narrow surface Iflm making a small angle with. the bottomv sur face of member l0 and a downwardly directed substantially semi-cylindrical bead lfln. Portion- |0a has adjacent its upper end an inwardly extending projection. lilo whichextends entirely around portion lfia, the lower part of portion L00 being substantially sem-i cylindrical and forming a bead, said portion I00 having a short surface Hip" extending outwardly from the inner side of member H30- at aslight angle to the bottom of member Hi to a short vertical surface-Villa which extends to'the top: of portion We. A top member 2| is provided for said tank and this is made of comparatively thin: material or metal which will have sufficient rigidity toadequately retain its shape against-all of the ordinary incidents of use. Member 2 is of substantially the sameshape and plan as member I19; As shown in- Figs. 5 and '7 the lower edge of member 2| is bent around and pressed: against surfaces ltflic, lillm and the surfaceof bead Hm. A layer ofsealing medium 22is disposed between members: 2|: and W, as shown. in Fig. 7-, and while various mediums. may housed; in practice said medium has constituted a. cement which does not harden, such as rubber cement. A very tight joint is thus formed betwecri-v mem-- bers |ll= and'2 I; Member 2| has an annular opening therein substantially concentric with portion 10a and the inner edge portion: of this opening is bent about and pressed against the surfaces Wu; Hip and the bottom surfaceor bead ofportion: kilo, as shown in Fig. 8. A layer. of. sealing. medium 23 is disposed between said portion. of member 2|: and the parts iiiq', Hip and I00. sealing medium will be of the same character as:thezseal-- ing medium. 22'. A very tight joint is=thus formed? between the top of member 2|: and portion Ida. The space 2 between members I8 and 2B which extends about portion I'Ba thus forms'th'e liquid receiving space of the tank.

An annular member '26: formed of plate material has vertical and: horizontal portions fitting. along: the inner and. bottom sides of the bent-in portion of member 2| and member 2'6 will be.

secured: to member 2| in anysuitable mannenas by soldering. Soldering metal usedis designated 21'. Member 26 has an inwardly extending; flange 26a shown as inclining'slightlyupwardly. Flange 26a is reenforced at equally and circumferentially spaced locations by small plates 2% welded to flange 26a. Flange 26a and. plates. b are tapped, as shown in Fig. 8-, to support certainparts of the outboard: motor,. such as a covering cap not shown. 7

Member 2| has: a lug 2|-a projecting from its top somewhat adjacent its trapezoidal end which. is-exteriorly threaded. to receive; a smallnut 28+ disposed atthez inner .side f m m r 2 Lu 21a: is boredv and tapped; to receive, the threaded:

4 end of a headed screw 29 which has its head seated in a recess or bore in a swinging cover member 30. Screw 29 has a shank portion extending through a bore in member 3|! and a spring tension washer 3| is disposed beneath the head of screw 28. Solder 2|-c:is-: placed in' the angles between nut. 28 and member: 2 I? and between nut 28 and lug 2|a to form a tight seal, Member 3.0fis swingable about the axis of screw 29. Member 30 (see Figs. 1 and 6) is bored and tapped to have threaded therein a member 33 having a flange 33a adjacent its bottom which overlies an annular member 34which will be made of rubber or similar material. Member 2| is provided with 1 an opening Ztb adjacent lug 2|a and adjacent this opening the material of member 2| is crimped to. form an: annular upwardly directed ridge 2|c which is engaged by washer 34. Member 33 has a terminal portion below flange 33a extending into washer 34 and washer 34 is carried by member- 33. Member 33 has small rods or pins 33d projecting at opposite sides thereof" and: forming. a handle bywhich member 33: may, be un'screwed' and member 313, then-be swung about theaxis of screw 29 to uncover opening 2 it: Opening 2 |b constitutes the: filling opening for: the: tank. Member 33.:has a rather largebore 33b: extending from its bottom to adjacent the top thereof. Member 33 is also bored and tapped: atits upper end to receive a headed screw 35 whichawili have its head provided with a knurled. periphery; A washer 36' of yielding or: resilient material is diSiposed in: a shallow counterbore in: the top of member 33 and adapted. to be engaged by the bottom ofthehead of screwy351. ScrewSE extends. downwardly into the-bore; 33b and: has an annular: groove formed adjacent its. lower end in which: is disposed a plate-3:1. held in positiorr by a locking plate 38 having a top horizontal portion: with. an. open-sided recess therein and a lower' depen'ding portion. Member 38 can beresiliently presscd' laterally around the reduced portion of? screw 35 and will be retained in position by its: resiliency. Plate 36; isthus held against the: top: wall of said annular recess inscrew- 3 5. A compression coiled: spring 39 surrounds screw 35 and bears at its. lower end against plate 31 and at its: upper end against the top of: bore 33b; Member Sails-1pm vided at its top with: a plurality of. small. holes:

, or passages3z3cextending. frombore- 3 312 the bottom surface ofawasher 36'. Spring: 3e acts to' prevent motion? of screw '35 when loosened: but does not prevent entry of air through holes 330 whenv screw 35- is loosened;

With the described structure the tank will be secured to supports carriedv by; the cylinder block or crankshaft case: ofthe motor byv the studs anal-2. The-fuel, such-as gasoline; will beplaced in the tank by swinging member 38 to one side about the axis of screw 29. This uncovers the opening, 33b sothat the; can: be poured into the tank. When the fuel has been placed in the tank, member: 3|) will: be-moved: to the position shown in the drawings and member 3-3 can be:

turned by the pins 35- to press washer 3 against the rim 2|c. When the motor is running and it is desired to' have an air vent intothe tank, the screw 35 can be rotated and moved upward-1y against the tension of spring 39. Screw 35- will be loosened and air canenterthe tan-k through the passages 330. The gasoline will be fed to the-carburetor through conduit H, the same passing through screen I8.

Irr- Fig; 9; a modif ed structurefof holding the sheet 2| of the tank to the base member M1 is shown. The base member which is designated H! has a vertical surface it at its outer side which merges through a small curve into a horizontal surface Illu. When member I0 is first made it has a lug or projection i012 extending vertically from the outer end of surface Illu. The sheet 21 which is designated 21 has its lower edge bent outwardly at a right angle and said sheet is then placed against the surfaces It and Wu, as shown in Fig. 9, with a layer of cement 40 disposed between the inner and bottom surfaces of member 2 I and the surfaces Hit and lllu. The lug or projection 102) is then bent substantially at a right angle to overlie and engage the top surface of the outwardly bent portion of member 2| and the outer vertical surface thereof. A very tight and secure joint is made between the base member and the sheet 21' which forms the top portion of the gas tank. The structure shown in Fig. 9 has been used with a base member made of zinc. The base member is commonly made of aluminum. At present aluminum is not sufficiently bendable to use in the structure shown in Fig. 9 but a bendable aluminum may be perfected.

From the above description it will be seen that we have provided a comparatively simple and highly eflicient structure of gas tank. In the described construction the necessity of welding parts of the tank together is eliminated. The folding over of the edge portion of member 21 onto the peripheral portion of member I 0 with the use of the described cement gives a very tight and durable joint. The member l0 gives good rigidity to the tank and permits the use of lighter material for the member 21. The sup porting portion 26 is easily and nicely supported on the tank. The structure has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and efiicient and is being commercially made.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A gas tank for an outboard motor having in combination, a rigid bottom member of platelike form having horizontal upper and lower surfaces and having an upstanding solid rib extending thereabout, said rib having a vertical outer surface, said member having a substan-. tially horizontal surface extending outwardly from the bottom of said vertical surface and making substantially a right angle therewith, said member having a solid bead below said vertical surface substantially semi-circular in cross section and having its outer side extending to the outer end of said horizontal surface, a top member of inverted dish-like form made of flexible sheet material of much less thickness than said bottom member, the same having a portion bent closely adjacent and parallel to said vertical surface, closely adjacent and parallel to said horizontal surface and extending around said bead closely adjacent and parallel thereto and to said lower surface of said bottom member and a layer of nonhardening rubber cement disposed between and adhering to said top member and said vertical and horizontal surfaces and said head, said top member being thus connected to said bottom member by said top member being so disposed.

DANIEL A. ARMSTRONG. WALTER J. RALEIGH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 745,261 Stubinger Nov. 24, 1903 1,107,408 Caille Aug. 18, 1914 1,252,360 Moore Jan. 1, 1918 1,378,288 Shirpser May 17, 1921 1,394,011 Hills Oct. 18, 1921 1,522,630 Ireland Jan. 13, 1925 1,661,578 Rollason Mar. 6, 1928 1,754,051 Rosenberg Apr. 8, 1930 1,916,158 Dudley June 27, 1933 1,977,090 Schibsted Oct. 16, 1934 2,120,961 Beede June 21, 1938 2,140,672 Gray et al. Dec. 20, 1938 2,198,630 McManus Apr. 30, 1940 2,254,570 Hailey Sept. 2, 1941 2,256,831 Karey Sept. 23, 1941 2,268,297 ONeil Dec. 30, 1941 2,291,132 Ashley July 28, 1942 2,331,449 Wittenberg Oct. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 348,375 Great Britain May 21, 1931 537,260 Great Britain June 16, 1941 

